WILLEMSTAD – Curaçao has spent far too many years waiting for clarity about the future of its refinery. Governments have changed, negotiations have come and gone, potential operators have appeared and disappeared, and ambitious announcements have repeatedly been followed by disappointment.
Now another uncertainty has emerged.
While PAR parliamentarian Quincy Girigorie and Traffic, Transport and Urban Planning Minister Charles Cooper exchange political blows over the future of the refinery and Bullenbaai, a much more important question risks getting lost in the noise: what exactly is happening with Global Oil and 2BAYS?
This deserves an answer.
Global Oil was presented as the company that would establish an asphalt operation at Emmastad. Whatever the expectations surrounding that project were, questions are now being raised about Global Oil's relationship with Curaçao and whether the company is effectively severing its ties with the island while apparently moving ahead with activities connected to Venezuela.
If that is indeed the situation, the government cannot simply allow the matter to disappear quietly.
Curaçao needs to know what agreements were made with Global Oil, what obligations the company assumed, whether those obligations were fulfilled and whether 2BAYS or any other government entity is still owed money or performance under existing agreements.
There is also a broader issue at stake.
The refinery, Bullenbaai terminal and associated infrastructure are strategic national assets. Decisions involving these properties cannot be treated as ordinary commercial matters hidden behind confidentiality whenever difficult questions arise. Commercial confidentiality has its place, but public assets require public accountability.
This is especially important considering the history of the refinery.
For years Curaçao was told that new partners could restore industrial activity and create jobs. Considerable political energy was invested in finding operators and investors. Yet the island has repeatedly been confronted with failed negotiations, changing strategies and companies that did not ultimately deliver what many people had been led to expect.
The June 2026 Financial Management Report itself paints a revealing picture of the current direction. Interest from potential operators has concentrated more heavily on the Bullenbaai terminal, while there has been considerably less interest in restarting the Emmastad refinery. As a result, 2BAYS has increasingly shifted its attention from the original objective of restoring oil and gas production toward terminal, storage, logistics and other service-oriented activities.
That may very well be the more realistic economic strategy. Curaçao should not restart a refinery simply for the sake of saying that the refinery is operating again. If storage, transshipment, maritime services, ship repair or other activities can generate sustainable revenue and employment with lower financial and environmental risks, those alternatives deserve serious consideration.
But changing strategy also requires transparency.
The public should know whether the Global Oil asphalt project remains alive. If it does, what is the timetable? If it does not, why did it fail? Did Global Oil meet its contractual and financial obligations? Does the company owe money to 2BAYS, CRU or another public entity? Have agreements been terminated? And if Global Oil is moving its attention to Venezuela, what consequences does that have for Curaçao?
These questions should not become casualties of the political battle between Girigorie and Cooper.
Opposition politicians have every right to scrutinize the government. Ministers have every right to defend their policies and correct information they believe is inaccurate. But the public gains nothing when debates deteriorate into personal attacks while the substantive questions remain unanswered.
The government must also recognize that 2BAYS is not an ordinary private company operating entirely outside the public sphere. Its assets, decisions and financial condition are ultimately of enormous importance to Curaçao.
Every unsuccessful refinery agreement has consequences. Every year that valuable infrastructure remains underused carries an opportunity cost. Every commitment made to a company that subsequently fails to perform can potentially affect public finances, employment and Curaçao's economic credibility.
That is why the Global Oil issue should be addressed openly.
Minister Cooper and 2BAYS should explain the current status of the relationship, within reasonable commercial limits. Global Oil should likewise be given the opportunity to explain its position. If there is a contractual dispute, say so. If negotiations continue, explain what can responsibly be disclosed. If the project has collapsed, Curaçao deserves to know that as well.
There is nothing wrong with changing course when circumstances change. In fact, continuing with a failed strategy merely because too much political capital has already been invested in it would be worse.
What is unacceptable is uncertainty becoming the permanent policy.
Curaçao has already experienced enough promises concerning the refinery. What the country needs now is a realistic economic strategy for Emmastad and Bullenbaai, supported by numbers, credible partners, enforceable agreements and measurable results.
The debate should therefore move beyond whether Girigorie or Cooper wins the latest political confrontation.
The question Curaçao should be asking is the one raised by the image: what is happening with Global Oil and 2BAYS?
And this time, the answer should come before another promise.